Farmer Field Schools in Expanding Cultivation to Newly Reclaimed Land in Ismailia in Egypt

The use of irrigation systems is expanding in Egypt to facilitate cultivation on sandy areas that were previously desert. Many of the farmers starting on the new areas are undergraduates and others with no background in farming. Much support is required when they start farming. In addition, farmers moving to the new lands from the Nile Delta meet completely new challenges because the poor and infertile sandy soils require different management from the clay soils at the Delta. Ismailia Agricultural Research Station (IARS) of the Agricultural Research Center of Egypt focuses on research on how to cultivate the newly reclaimed sandy soils. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland has supported the research and advisory work of IARS for the last fifteen years through the Egypt - Finland Agricultural Research Project (EFARP). This has been implemented as a twinning project between the Agricultural Research Center of Egypt and the equivalent organisation in Finland: MTT Agrifood Research Finland. In this paper we describe the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach applied to forage and animal production on smallholder farms from 2000-2004

Colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer in Egypt: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Current guidelines advocate for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in adults who are at risk by using direct visualization methods such as colonoscopy. However, in Egypt, there is a paucity of data regarding the current practice of colonoscopy screening. Moreover, more information is needed about the knowledge and attitudes of potential participants regarding the procedure and possible barriers that can limit their participation. Methods We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study using an interview-based survey of patients aged 45 years or above who presented to outpatient clinics of nine university hospitals throughout Egypt. Participants were surveyed to assess their compliance with CRC colonoscopy screening guidelines, their knowledge of and attitude towards colonoscopy screening, and their perspective on potential barriers to colonoscopy screening. Results A total of 1,453 participants responded to our survey in the nine study centers. Only a minority of participants (2.3%) were referred for CRC screening. Referral rates were higher among those who knew someone with a history of CRC (5.3% vs 1.5%, p < 0.001) or had a discussion with their physician about CRC (25.8% vs 0.7%, p < 0.001). Few responders (3.2%) had good knowledge regarding CRC screening. After introducing the concept of CRC screening to all participants, most patients (66.7%) showed a positive attitude towards having the procedure. Financial burden and fear of results were the two most frequently cited barriers to undergoing CRC screening (81.1%; and 60.1%, respecteively). Conclusions Despite the positive attitude, there is insufficient knowledge about CRC screening among eligible participants in Egypt. This has probably contributed to low compliance with current CRC screening guidelines and needs to be addressed at the national level

Additional file 1 of Colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer in Egypt: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Additional file 1. Study centers overview